The New York Times Gretchen Morgenson reports an in-depth story about five small Wisconsin school districts who were taken for millions by St Louis-based Stifel Financial. The S.E.C. sued Stifel because the firm advised the school districts to buy risky complex debt securities, whcih were clearly unsuitable for unsophisticated investors (even I knew that!)

Sharpie drawings July 2011

“You can’t have sharp objects in the crazy house. Sharpies are okay, but no pencils, pens or pointy things. Hours are spent sitting on hard chairs waiting for lunch or 3:00–whichever comes first. The nurses talk at you, but the earnest grad students are horrendously annoying–lecturing about ‘coping strategies”, “stress reduction” and –get this–”boredom”. I had a few Sharpie markers, my brain and my trusty 5 x 7 sketch pad to keep my mind from exploding. “

3. Discussion and appropriate action regarding a request for temporary homeless
shelter at 3675 E. Cudahy Ave. Beverly Tryba representive for the Homeless Shelter explained that 1 week per month, Dec, Jan, Feb, March and possibly April, they would be in by 6:00 pm and out by 7-8 am.
Alderman Bartoschevich expressed his concerns from the finical [sic] aspect as well as the concerns for homeless individuals in his aldermanic district. Motion to deny the temporary homeless shelter made by Commissioner Coulthurst seconded by Alderman Bartoshevich. Vote was 6 to approve denying and 1 against.

Local churches stepped up to keep Cudahy’s homeless from freezing to deaththis week. I have to say that MIGHT POSSIBLY had something to do with Mr. Day’s declaration today. Am I a cynical, old, atheist? You can decide that for yourself.

My Mombo and I had words on this subject. “Mom, I’m going to help these people out. Do you have any coats or blanke — ” “No! We don’t have anything to give to anyone.” “Mom, you disappoint me. What happened to ‘Do Unto Others As You Would Have Others Do Unto You’? If you needed help, wouldn’t you want someone to help you out?”

“They should suck it up and get a job. I worked hard for what I have. Why should I give it away for free to a bunch of lazy, drunken losers? Let the government take care of them” (especially ironic considering her recent Tea Party infatuation).

Oh, Mombo. Oh, Milwaukee. Get out and see the world. People have mental problems. People can be without a home. People can need a hand. It’s not rocket science. If you have extra, share it. If someone needs something, give it. Count yourself among the lucky that you have more than you need.

And by the way, Merry Christmas.

Girl Scout uniforms are made by a small family-run business in New Jersey. The GSA organization is considering outsourcing the work to China. How Un-American is that?

AP October 29, 2010NJ Factory Fears China Will Get Girl Scouts Work
The owners of a family-run New Jersey factory that makes uniforms for the Girl Scouts of America said they may be forced to close or lay off workers if the organization takes its business to China.

Parents of Girl Scouts will have to make a choice:

Dress their budding Scoutlets in $6 sashes and $20 vests made by Chinese child slave laborers and their families–thus keeping jobs in the Good Old USA?

Dress their budding Scoutlets in $6 sashes and $20 vests made by Americans–thus taking livelihoods away from some of the poorest people in the world?

Other options could include:

Prices for Chinese-made uniforms sliced dramatically to reflect the actual cost of them by GSA,–thus making Girl Scouting affordable for more American children.

American Girl Scouts come to meetings in homemade or recycled sashes and vests . . . Aww, That’ll never happen. Forget I even mentioned it.